WWE: The Top 27 Wrestlemania Matches of All Time

In honor of Wrestlemania 27, which is just around the corner, I decided to put together a list of the top 27 Wrestlemania matches of all time.

I am excluding tag team matches or multiple-man matches such as the Money in the Bank matches (Triple Threats however are fair game). Naturally, many will disagree or be upset that their match did not make the list, oh well. Of course, if you disagree or feel as if your match did not make the list or if you just want to say how much of an idiot I am, all you have to do is leave a comment and give your opinion. All criticism is welcome.

This match was another one that could have been much higher, but it was hurt by one move: Lesnar’s botched shooting star press where he almost killed himself.

Leading up to that move, both men were on it and proved why they were the two greatest athletes in WWE history and that they deserved the final match on the card. It only makes you wonder what could have been had things gone as planned.

A match that has almost been forgotten by history, it did not help that the lights had literally just gone out.

Orton had the worst chance at the time of winning and the most to prove. The victory put another great win on his impressive third World Title reign, and this remains John Cena’s only Wrestlemania loss to date.

This is another match that has been forgotten, especially because of the Triple Threat match that was the main event.

Eddy had just won the title off Brock a month prior, and not too many gave him a chance at retaining against our favorite Olympic gold medalist. Both men put on a great match, and Eddy lied, cheated and stole his way to victory.

22. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit - Wrestlemania 17

First off, I should say that I condone Chris Benoit the person in any way and any mention I do make of Chris Benoit, it's for the wrestler we all knew for years.

Okay, now that I got that out of the way...this was a straight-up one-on-one match with little build-up. The story behind it was both men wanted to see who the better technical wrestler was. Angle had more to prove since he had just dropped the title to The Rock a month earlier. Chris Benoit wanted to prove he could make it in the WWE.

21. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels - WWE Championship, Wrestlemania 23

John Cena was out to prove himself as he had defeated Triple H a year earlier, yet many doubts still remained. This had the feel that the Wrestlemania main event required. The match received plenty of time and was only hurt by the repetitive and sudden ending.

The official changing of the guard and what was thought to be, for four-and-a-half years, Shawn Michaels’ final match.

The pain in Shawn is obvious throughout the match, and the atmosphere in Boston that night was out of this world. The crowd was ready for Austin to be the man. Shawn and Triple H’s exchange before coming out says everything.

19. The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton - Wrestlemania 21

The only thing on the line was the streak which officially started being tracked.

In many ways, Orton was the perfect man to end it, and many times it seems that he would be the one. However, that was not to be, as for many different reasons, Undertaker reversed Orton’s tombstone and continued the streak.

17. Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper - I-C Title Match, Wrestlemania 8

The I-C title has never meant more to two individuals than it did on this night.

Everything involving these men, from the promo before the match to the actual match to the embrace after was top notch. This ended up being one of the matches that finally pushed Bret towards the main event, and it was, hands down, Piper’s best match ever.

Edge certainly had a lot to prove since this was the first time he was chosen to go on last at Wrestlemania.

While coming in, not too many believed Edge could walk out victorious, as the match went on, he certainly convinced some people otherwise. And even though he did fall in the end, he accomplished what he wanted and proved he belonged in the main event.

Slightly overrated and often gets the praise for the simple fact that it did go an hour.

The fact that both men kept the crowd in the match with no falls taking place in 60 minutes, however, says all that needs to be said. Both men were at their physical peak, and on this night, it showed.

13. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania 26

Much was made about this sequel to their match that had taken place the previous year, and if it could possibly top the magic that was the first one.

While I don’t believe it surpassed the original, this time there was more at stake. Respect was earned and Shawn became the first man to fall to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania in back-to-back years. It wasn’t as good as part I, but it was still better than everything else on that night.

Savage, among many others, always took a back seat to Hogan. Savage was in the driver’s seat for the entire match, raising the match quality and doing most of the dirty work only for Hogan to "hulk up" in the final minute and take the glory, quickly putting an end to Savage’s year-long title reign.

It was the same formula that many other Hogan matches had, however his opponent made this particular match something special.

Both men were at their height of popularity while the fans in attendance at the Alamodome that night were clearly on the side of their home-state rattlesnake.

This match put the final stamp of greatness on an amazing night and possibly the greatest Wrestlemania of all time. Austin’s heel turn ended up being a huge mistake, and this was probably the peak of the company. But on this night, it did not matter as both men brought it and carved their legacies out in stone.

9. Edge vs. Mick Foley - Wrestlemania 22

Easily the best hardcore match in Wrestlemania history.

Edge was angry as the system as he had just lost the title two months before, and he believed he belonged in the main event. Mick Foley believed that his Wrestlemania moment still eluded him. They went out there, put their bodies on the line, through thumbtacks and even fire, and they made a statement and stole the show.

The Ultimate Warrior never had a better match, and Savage proved once again why he was the original Mr. Wrestlemania.

Savage’s redemption after the match and his reunion with Elizabeth is one of wrestling’s greatest moments ever. There was never anything greater at stake at any Wrestlemania than what was at stake for these two men on this night, and it showed.

6. Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker - Wrestlemania 25

The magic on this night was attempted to be recreated a year later, and it didn’t come close.

Everything worked for these two men on this night, and the fans in attendance were behind every move. The announcers as well gave this match an epic feel. The two veterans put the locker room to shame and forced the WWE to push a youth movement.

5. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania 21

This was one of the few dream matches left at the time.

It was two of the best performers of all time putting on a wrestling clinic and attempting to outdo each other, meeting for the first time ever on the biggest possible stage. The chemistry between the two was instant, and as the match came to an end, everyone was aware that they had just witnessed an instant classic.

4. Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania 19

This was Shawn’s first Wrestlemania match in five years.

Chris Jericho, an avid fan of HBK growing up, no longer wanted to be known as the next Shawn Michaels but rather for his own accomplishments. These two men were mirror images of each other, and in a match that had nothing at stake, this one meant so much to both competitors. They stole the show and had the match of the night.

3. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin - I Quit Match, Wrestlemania 13

One of the most important matches in the history of the company as this was truly the start of Austin’s push.

Austin had a small following at that point, but as he lay in a puddle of his own blood, locked in Bret’s sharpshooter, that small following transformed into an army of fans, and he quickly traded places with Bret. The once loved Canadian was now despised…Austin never looked back.

On this night, to the fans in attendance at the Garden, Shawn was just as much as a villain as Triple H was. As Shawn would try to start up sweet chin music, the fans were not having it and were firmly behind Chris Benoit. Everything clicked and there has never been and will never be a greater triple threat match. Each man brought something unique to the table. Many times it seemed like Benoit’s dream would turn into a nightmare, but as he reversed the pedigree into the crossface and Triple H ‘s hand repeatedly struck the mat, everything in the wrestling world was right. Benoit and longtime best friend Eddy Guerrero both celebrated with World Title’s in hand as confetti dropped from the rafters and for this night, everything was perfect.

1. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart - Wrestlemania 10

In my opinion, the best one-on-one wrestling match ever.

This opened the card, and when this one was over, no other match had a chance. Many people would put the overrated Shawn-Razor ladder match above this match…well they need to get on the straightedge plan because they must be high on something.

The brothers were in top form, and Bret was intent on making his little brother a star on this night. Well, the mission was accomplished, as Owen countered Bret’s victory roll, hooked the legs and the referee slapped the mat for the third time; the crowd was stunned, and a star was born.